Link member for tire chains
A link member for tire chains has a link member body having at least one connecting opening for receiving additional chain members. The link member body has a tire contact part and a wear part, wherein the wear part has lateral studs and at least one central stud. The lateral studs are positioned on opposed sides of the at least one central stud. The at least one central stud projects past the lateral studs in a first and a second transverse directions extending transversely to a longitudinal center plane of the link member body such that the wear part, when viewed in a plan view, is approximately cruciform.
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The invention relates to a link member for tire chains, in particular tire protection chains, comprising a link member body that has at least one connecting opening for additional chain members and comprises a tire contact part and a wear part having lateral studs and at least one central stud.
Link members are known in which the wear part comprises several essentially identically configured studs between which recesses are provided. The lateral surfaces and the end faces of the link member body extend essentially parallel to one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to configure a link member of the aforementioned kind such that, while a constructively simple configuration is provided, a high wear volume as well as excellent traction are ensured even after an extended service life.
In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved in that the central stud projects laterally past the lateral studs such that the wear part is approximately cross-shaped (cruciform) in a plan view.
As a result of the configuration according to the invention, the link member is supported on the ground on four locations that are positioned relative to one another in a cross shape (cruciform); excellent grip and traction are ensured in this way. Moreover, the link member according to the invention has a high wear volume. Advantageously, by means of a substantially rectangular configuration of the connecting openings it is ensured that the linked connecting members can move properly within the link member so that canting is reliably prevented. By providing lateral depressions in the area of the wear part, it is achieved that, after a certain wear has taken place, new profiled edges are formed in the area of the depressions that improve the traction and wear volume again. By arranging additional projections in the area of the wear part, the wear volume can be further increased and traction can be improved.
The link member 1 according to
The connecting openings 3, 4 have a substantially oval contour as shown in
The link member 1 has a tire contact part 5 for contacting the tire; the tire contact part 5 delimits the connecting openings 3, 4 in the downward direction (
The section of the link member body 2 above the connecting openings 3, 4 forms the wear part 15 of the link member 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the wear part 15 has three studs 16 to 18 that are positioned at a spacing from one another in the longitudinal direction of the link member. Between the lateral studs 16, 17 and the central stud 18 there is a recess 19, 20, respectively. The recesses 19, 20 each have a rounded bottom 21, 22 when viewed in a side view according to
The connecting openings 3, 4 are separated from one another by a central stay 31 (
In this way, it is ensured to that the connected chain members can move properly within the connecting openings 3, 4 in order to prevent canting of the link member 1 within the ground.
The end faces 13, 14 of the link member body 2 pass across rounded areas 32, 33 (
In a plan view according to
In order to ensure a high grip of the link member 1 even as wear increases, on the lateral surfaces 38 to 41 of the lateral studs 16 and 17 and on the lateral surfaces 42, 43 (
While the depressions 44, 45, 55, 56 provided on the lateral studs 16, 17 have a closed circumferential contour, the depressions 47, 48 provided on the central stud 18 are open in a direction facing the tire contact side 6. These depressions 47, 48 have in a plan view a substantially U-shaped contour.
In order to further increase traction of the link member 1 with increasing wear, in the area between the depressions 44, 45, 47, 48, 55, 56 underneath the recesses 19, 20 projections 49, 50 and 51, 52 are provided, respectively, which project past the lateral walls 9, 10 of the link member body 2 and extend essentially across the entire distance between the connecting openings 3, 4 and the recesses 19, 20. The projections 49 to 52 project approximately into the plane of the lateral surfaces 53, 54 of the central stud 18. In this way, the projections 49 to 52 provide upon wear of the studs additional corners and edges that further increase the wear volume and the grip of the link member.
In order for the engaging edges of the link member 1 to be relatively sharp even upon tilting, the lateral walls 9,10 of the link member body 2 extend from the end faces 13 or 14 in the direction toward the center of the link member at an acute angle (
The link member 1 described in connection with
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
Claims
1. A link member for tire chains, the link member comprising:
- a link member body having at least one connecting opening for receiving additional chain members;
- the link member body comprising a tire contact part and a wear part, wherein the wear part has lateral studs and at least one central stud and wherein the lateral studs are positioned on opposed sides of the at least one central stud;
- wherein the at least one central stud projects past the lateral studs in a first and a second transverse directions extending transversely to a longitudinal center plane of the link member body;
- wherein at least on the wear part the lateral walls of the link member body have at least one depression;
- wherein the at least one depression has a closed contour in an upward direction toward a wear side of the at least one central stud and the lateral studs.
2. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central stud tapers at least in the first transverse direction.
3. The link member according to claim 2, wherein the at least one central stud, when viewed in a plan view, has a shape consisting of two trapezoids each having a base and resting with the bases against one another, wherein the trapezoids taper in a transverse direction away from the longitudinal center plane of the link member body.
4. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the lateral studs widen, beginning at opposed end faces of the link member body, in a direction toward the at least one central stud, respectively.
5. The link member according to claim 4, wherein the link member body has lateral walls thatconverge at an acute angle toward the opposed end faces of the link member body.
6. The link member according to claim 5, wherein the acute angle of the lateral walls of the link member body is approximately 45 degrees.
7. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the lateral studs each have a sidewall facing the at least one central stud, wherein the sidewalls of the lateral studs have sidewall sections positioned at an obtuse angle relative to one another so that the sidewalls have a pitched roof shape.
8. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central stud has sidewalls facing the sidewalls of the lateral studs, respectively, wherein between the sidewalls of the at least one central stud and the sidewalls of the lateral studs recesses are formed that widen continuously in the first and second transverse directions relative to the longitudinal center plane.
9. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the lateral walls each have one of the at least one depression at least on one of the lateral studs and at least one central stud.
10. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one depression provided on the lateral studs has a closed contour.
11. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one depression provided on the lateral studs tapers in a direction toward end faces of the link member body.
12. The link member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting opening has a substantially oval contour.
13. The link member according to claim 12, wherein the at least one connecting opening has rounded edges.
14. A link member for tire chains, the link member comprising:
- a link member body having at least one connecting opening for receiving additional chain members;
- the link member body comprising a tire contact part and a wear part, wherein the wear part has lateral studs and at least one central stud and wherein the lateral studs are positioned on opposed sides of the at least one central stud;
- wherein the at least one central stud projects past the lateral studs in a first and a second transverse directions extending transversely to a longitudinal center plane of the link member body;
- wherein at least on the wear part the lateral walls of the link member body have at least one depression;
- wherein the at least one depression provided on the at least one central stud is open in a downward direction toward the tire contact part.
15. The link member according to claim 14, wherein the at least one depression provided on the at least one central stud has a substantially U-shaped contour.
16. The link member according to claim 14, wherein the at least one central stud tapers at least in the first transverse direction.
17. The link member according to claim 16, wherein the at least one central stud, when viewed in a plan view, has substantially a trapezoidal shape relative to the longitudinal center plane of the link member body.
18. The link member according to claim 14, wherein the lateral studs widen, beginning at opposed end faces of the link member body, in a direction toward the at least one central stud, respectively.
19. The link member according to claim 18, wherein the link member body has lateral walls that converge at an acute angle toward the opposed end faces of the link member body.
20. The link member according to claim 19, wherein the acute angle of the lateral walls of the link member body is approximately 45 degrees.
21. The link member according to claim 14, wherein the lateral studs each have a sidewall facing the at least one central stud, wherein the sidewalls of the lateral studs have sidewall sections posiUoned at an obtuse angle relative to one another so that the sidewalls have a pitched roof shape, wherein the at least one central stud has sidewalls facing the sidewalls of the lateral studs, respectively, wherein between the sidewalls of the at least one central stud and the sidewalls of the lateral studs recesses are formed that widen continuously in the first and second transverse directions relative to the longitudinal center plane.
22. A link member for tire chains, the link member comprising:
- a link member body having at least one connecting opening for receiving additional chain members;
- the link member body comprising a tire contact part and a wear part, wherein the wear part has lateral studs and at least one central stud and wherein the lateral studs are positioned on opposed sides of the at least one central stud;
- wherein the at least one central stud projects past the lateral studs in a first and a second transverse directions extending transversely to a longitudinal center plane of the link member body;
- wherein the link member has lateral walls and the lateral walls each have at least two projections spaced at a distance from one another, respectively;
- wherein the projections are positioned adjacent to the at least one central stud;
- wherein between the at least one central stud and the lateral studs recesses are formed and wherein two of the at least one connecting opening are provided, wherein the projections are positioned between the connecting openings and the recesses.
23. The link member according to claim 22, wherein the projections substantially extend across an entire distance measured between the connecting openings and the recesses.
24. The link member according to claim 22, wherein the projections extend toward a plane defined by lateral surfaces of the at least one central stud.
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 24, 2005
Date of Patent: Nov 27, 2007
Patent Publication Number: 20050211356
Assignee: Eisen- und Drahtwerk Erlau AG (Aalen)
Inventors: Hansjörg Rieger (Aalen), Zvonimir Bogdan (Abtsgmünd)
Primary Examiner: Russell D. Stormer
Assistant Examiner: Kip Kotter
Attorney: Gudrun E. Huckett
Application Number: 10/907,193
International Classification: B60C 27/20 (20060101);